Factor XII and blood clots in sickle cell disease
Official title: Role of Factor XII in Thrombo-Inflammatory Complications of Sickle Cell Disease
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11393008 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project tests how Factor XII affects blood clotting and inflammation in people with sickle cell disease to understand how it contributes to painful crises, clots, and organ damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $683,037 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL173322-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393008 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with sickle cell disease who experience or are at risk for vaso-occlusive crises and venous thrombosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without sickle cell disease or without risk of clotting or VOC are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies the role of Factor XII in sickle cell disease and how it may influence clotting and inflammation in patients. The team previously found that FXII is more active in sickle cell patients and that blocking FXII can reduce clotting in mouse models. By combining laboratory studies with human samples, they aim to map how FXII drives vaso-occlusive crises and organ injury. Results could identify new ways to prevent dangerous clots and pain episodes without increasing bleeding risk. The work could pave the way for targeted therapies for people living with SCD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer, targeted treatments to prevent clots and organ damage in sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in SCD and FXII suggest a meaningful link between FXII activity and thromboinflammatory processes, with promising results in animal models.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pawlinski, Rafal L — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Pawlinski, Rafal L
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.